| Infection control has become somewhat of a | | | | after additional instruction a marked change |
| political hot potato in recent years with the media | | | | occurred in their day to day behaviour and |
| producing stories on the spreading of so called | | | | approach to infection control. Of these changes a |
| 'super-bugs' in hospitals and medical institutions. | | | | few were striking: Workers were clearly more |
| Thankfully to combat the problem a growing | | | | thorough with personal hand hygiene at all stages |
| number of workers are undergoing online training | | | | of the day. The protective clothing worn by both |
| programmes to reduce instances of these bugs | | | | workers and patients was improved as were the |
| such as MRSA and C.difficile. | | | | procedures to dispose of this clothing. In addition |
| The knowledge gained from these courses is | | | | to the clothing, the wearing of gloves and eye |
| expected to help if a pandemic of any of these | | | | protection was also increased. |
| virus strains breaks out. Recent research has | | | | It is hoped that by increasing the training across |
| shown that workers who undergo the online | | | | the medical profession as a whole, instances of |
| training are more adept in infection control | | | | cross contamination and transmission of infection |
| procedures and informing patients on how to | | | | will be vastly reduced. As long as staff members |
| reduce the chances of contamination. | | | | recognise the importance of the training and take |
| In terms of self assessment, workers who were | | | | it on board; the situation should come into fruition. |
| surveyed before undertaking the online infection | | | | This is a vital course of action should the |
| control course gave their competency levels at | | | | problems of hospital infection be solved. These |
| sixty four percent. Once the course had been | | | | problems are now fundamentally international in |
| completed, this self assessed competency rose | | | | nature meaning that agencies all over the globe |
| by nearly fifteen percent. In addition almost ninety | | | | are introducing methods to increase training and |
| percent of participants thought that the online | | | | hence reduce instances of hospital based |
| training had given them a clearer picture of how | | | | infections being contracted. A major reason |
| to control infection within their working area. The | | | | behind this move is not purely to limit infection |
| result has been an improvement in procedural | | | | however; as these viruses are frequently |
| adherence and a wide reaching change in | | | | contracted in hospitals, medical institutions are |
| behaviour. | | | | obviously aware of the fact that more instances |
| An added benefit of having individually trained | | | | will mean more lawsuits and hence more money |
| staff members has been the feedback on current | | | | being spent of legal fees rather than health |
| infection control procedures. As long as institutions | | | | benefits. In a world where the medical profession |
| have been open to the suggestions of their | | | | is under enough stress already, limiting infection is |
| workers, they have seen an improvement in | | | | a major initiative to reduce hospital running costs. |
| procedural knowledge and effectiveness of these | | | | If these online courses are a success hospitals |
| procedures. In addition to procedural knowledge | | | | should be able to reduce the instances of viruses |
| however, the courses give workers and | | | | such as MRSA. This is vitally important in not only |
| understanding of key issues such as hand | | | | restoring faith in healthcare institutions but also in |
| washing, best hygiene practice and the chain of | | | | reducing running costs. Today infection control is a |
| transmission. | | | | vital constituent of medical management that |
| The results of these types of courses have been | | | | requires training and procedural adherence to be |
| far reaching in the medical sphere. Even | | | | successful. |
| experienced healthcare professionals found that | | | | |